Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-07-01
ALIVE ISSUE.
Two Points on Which the Pros and
Ants are Agreed-The Negro Vote
viii Decide the Question.
North Texas WILL Vote for Prohibition and
sodth Texas Against it-A Differ
snce as to Msjoritios.

HoU5ToN, Tex, June 22.-Even the
varied pleasures of the state encampment
, have not o5sCured the prohibition issue.
Men talk about it as they bny pools on the
; competitive drills; they chat about if over
their cups, in the hotel Hobbies, and its
said that even lovely dancers make it a
subject OF repartee with their "anti"
partners as they 90 whirllng through the
mazesSo f the waltz 1t is safe to ssy that
no ppllticsl question has ever received
such 3 thorough discussion in Texas as
prohibition and never bss the public mind
been SO warmly agitated since the vote on
secession. 1t would seem that the cam
palgn has progressed far enough to ena-
Die close observer to form some sort of
an estimate as to the result, buI
the opinion of conservative men
and the reports from different sections
are so conflicting that the man who de-
slres TO preserve q reputation for pOlit-
ical pre5cience hides himself in g shell
and becomes DeIphian oracle On two
points, however, both sides are agreed:
That the negro vote will determine the
question, and that North Texas will
go for prohibition. As to maiorities.
etc, 1t is curious how far apart mer
are who talk in private, and lot merely
for the purpose of influencing the result
The colOred vote, upon which ali con-
cede the fate Of the question hinges, will
aggregate about $4,000, OF which $4,000
belong TO North Texas. The most potent
factors with this element in the past have
been Web Flanagan, Wright Cunev,
Wash Jones, c. Degrees and
John B. Rector. OF these Cuney's iutiu-
ence is the grea.est. He is perhsps the
ableSt representative Of his race 10 the
south, snG in nany political conflicts hss
displayed extraordinary talent as a pOliti-
cal leader. In declining to take part in
the prohibition campaign lie followed
out the policy outlined OF Mr. Bis ne
In 1884. Quincy is faithful champion OF
TIE man from Maize and will without
doubt throy 20 him the vote Of Texas in
the Republican convention OF So, IS he
did mgjOrity of lis vote 10 '84.
Next to Quincy in strength with The col |
or5d brother is Webster Flanagan, of
national reputation. Web IL an enthu
siastiC Prohi5iliouist and is making some
speeches for the Cause. His adherence /
to it will De worth almost IS much 20 it |
In actual votes as Reagents fcmous let |
ter.
Wash Jones Is power with the negroes, |
especially OF his own section, though his |
greatest struggle 10 with the independent |
element among the whites. His personal |
influence is perhaps greater than that Of |
any man in Texas. He is worth at least |
10000 votes IL state campaign TO any |
cause ne might espOuss. Il will be re- |
membered that in his campaign ageins; |
Ireland in '82 Jones Carried the latter's |
congressional district and C8ma near de-
III g
paiguer among the masses "Wash" Jones !
is without g peer in the state. He is .
working for prohibition
Colonel J. G. DeGress is also very
stroug with the cOIOred voters, though in (
the state Republican convention OF 1884 y
he alieuated the sympathies of number
OF their most prominent leaders. There |
isn't shrewder political organizer in
Texas than DeGress. Personally he is
very popu sr and in q fight he cen be re- 7
lied upon to die in the last ditch. rs yet :,
he has shown but little interes. in the
prohibition canvass, though c. recent re-
port says that he is to take Tie stump for
the "antis"
Judge Rector, by vigkde of his
official position as eaairnan of
the Republican State exec
utive committeeiis q high authority with
the ebony hued 3oter. BSjs 8 .conserva-
tive man OF u4inpeachable Character, end
personally is as popular with Democrats
as with Republicans. When ne declared
in favor of prohibition Judge Rector did
that cause service which, if estimated
IN votes, would run far up into the thou
ss1ds.
Aside from 1hese Influences ana but
little less potent Ii their nature, are the !
church rele-ions of the negro. Il IS
Wen known that with him the pastor is q
POI steal $ We'll as Il spiritual guide
4 nsle-zi result Of the de2rth OF leaders
Of ability among ta5 race. The negro
preacher is of course 2 Prohi5iuOnist,
and working PrOhibitI0aist.
This is the state of the campaign with |
reference 20 the Colored element, and
from it the reader can dra1 mis- own con-
clusiOns.
Il is, IS l haVe said, generally conceded
by the ants that n rth Texas
Will go for prohibition and by
the pros that South Texas will go the
other way. But there is wide difference 1
in the estimates Of maIorities. The ants
expect to overcome sn adverse majority {
ia North Texas of $4,000 with q South I
Texas anti majority of $4,000. The !
pros believe they will carry North Texas
oy $4,000, and that the majority against
them in South Texas will not exceed 90
boo These are the estimates of the o
most conservative men n both sides.
Of course there are others who claim
wildly, without being able 10 5
assign any valid reason for any opinion
whatever. 1t mast be evident to T
every man who travels, talks -
and thinks, that the vote will !,
De uncomforta0ly close for the win q
ling side and that the result may be de II
ermined by events yet to be. Just now +
[ is apparent that The tide is setting ~ L
or the second time in favor OF prohibit L
ion. Strong influences are at work in i
is favor which, unless Counteracted, will p
give the pros the state. Il
Jhiet among these is the stand which is a.
icing taken by the Farmers Alliance and J.
Knights q Labor throughout the state.
have gOod authority for the statement
hat at present both orders are practi- Ii
ally solid for prohibition. The manage pl
nent of the anti canvass are greatly IN
Harmed over this aspect Of affairs and S
he next two months will witness. SO l -
IN told, heTcu.ean efforts TO rcvolUtOn-
re opinion among the farmers and the
nights. Already speakers, who are sup
osed to have great influence with them
te being sent forth on missionary tours,
nd their number is TO be augmented SIS
he campaign nears the end. Together
he Farmers Alliance and the Knights Of